The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-30
Brave Little Trude.

=
Of eyes like stars, and merry, thrif-
ty way about her calculated to make
a man forget that this is a hard,
work-a-day world, full of vcxation
and disappointment.
When Annie and / were married
we took Gertrude to live with us /;
| could not bear the thought of the
lovely girl going to meet the world
in some menial occupation, and
Annie was thankful to have her with
her.
Gcrtrude-"Trude" we always
called the dear child-paid her way,
| assure you.
After the birth of Baby Grace she
took the entire management of the
household upon her young should
ers, and though we never kept a
servant my wife scarcely know what
it was to have care in the world.
So we went on for Il couple of
years as happy as birds in nest,
making much of the blessings, we
had, thinking little or nothing of
our privations.
Alas, | never dreamed that the
first reverse would come to us
through me.
Yet, was to be blamed? ?
Ever hard worker, one particu-
larly hot summer | had double duty
10 perform at the bank, and l over
tasked my ability.
remember falling with II dull
crash beneath my desk one day, and
it was weeks ere / was conscious
that | lay at home in my own bed,
carefully tended by Annie and
Trude.
| had been stricken down with
brain fever and the doctor had said
the struggle back to health and
strength would he long and serious,
for my system was wholly debility
by oyerwork.
After about six week, and | had
been declared out of danger, Iawoke
one evening, after taking a nap to
find the room deep in twilight and
very silent.
lay some time in a drowsy state
when suddenly / was by the unmis-
taxable sound of Il sob close by me,
followed by the low, earnest voice OF
Trude.
'Don't cry, Annie, DEAR she said
soothingly, you'll wake him"
"Oh, but, Trude, what are we TO
do?" faltered my wife.
1--WE shall pull through all right,
dear, never, fear !" was the brave
reply.
"But every cent of the money is
goncl There's a months rent due,
and no end of little outstanding bills
Besides, the doctor won't be coming
much longer, and then, of course
therell be his bill Y
Heaven help me her word al
most killed me
But even then little Trudc was
equal to the occasion.
"We must make some money
Annie" she said firmly.
"How in despair.
at is the height of the blackberry
season, and the fruit is unusually
fine / shall go out at 5 o'clock to-
morrow morning, pick several quarts
and sell every one of them at the
hotels before noon. | shall do the
same as long as the berries last; you
will then see whether we can make
a little money or not !"
could have arisen and fallen al
her feet in worship of her heroism
but poor Annie took life more ser
iously she seemed proof against
Trude's hopefulness.
"Oh, that could never succeed,
she sighed.
"Well; I'm going to try, anyway
was the undauntcd rcjoindcr.
After a pause Annie said, sudden
ly.
"Trudc, we are in Il desperate
strait why couldn't you write tc
Gerald Dayton and ask him to lend
us some money!
"Annie T.
"Well, he was in love with you
before mother died he is very rich
and Pm positive you would have
been his wife to day if you had let
him ask you so why"
ooh, hushl hushW Gertrude
cried ''Not Il word more ofthat Let
me have my own way, Believe me,
| shall succeed"
About 10 o'clock ON the following
morning Annie came to me, all
dressed up in her best, and, in d
nervous way, asked me if l could
spare her for couple of houes to &C
into the village with Trude.
| l..,..... 4. -, s.,nln..A IL LII.